Sling for surfboard



J. C. GAYLER, JR

SLING FOR SURFBOARD April 9, 1968 Filed Aug. 11, 1966 .1NVENTO R. V y Ler. J r.

JamesC,Ga

diiornqys United States Patent '0 3,377,007 SLING FOR SURFBOARD James C.Gayler, Jr., 441 Grandview Ave., Wyckoff, NJ. 07481 Filed Aug. 11, 1966,Ser. No. 571,776 3 Claims. (Cl. 224-5) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Thisinvention relates to carriers or slings and to a type that isparticularly adapted for the transport or carriage of surfboards orsimilar articles. It involves a shoulder strap having loops at both endswhich are adjustable and adapted to hold a surfboard, or the like.

The carrying of a surfboard from its point of storage or from anautomobile to the surf, presents a problem due to the size and unwieldynature of the board. It is therefore one of the objects of the inventionto provide a carrier or sling by means of which the surfboard can becarried in a balanced, comfortable manner by a user, to therebyconveniently transport it to or from the surf.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind whichcan be quickly, easily and adjustably fitted on a surfboard and aseasily removed therefrom when required; by which the board can becarried 'from the shoulders of the user in a convenient manner despiteits size and weight, and which can be made of materials rendering itsturdy and long-lasting.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a slinghaving a shoulder strap which is adjustable as to its effective length.Attached to said shoulder strap and located at the opposite ends of thesame are board-encircling straps or loops which are adjustable in amanner to regulate the effective diameters of the same, and which whenfitted around the board such as at the opposite sides of the center ofgravity of the board, enable the board to be carried from the shoulderof the user by means of the shoulder strap, and in a balanced condition.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I havedevised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularlypointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an illustrative embodiment of theinvention is disclosed:

FIG. 1 shows how the carrier or sling appears when in use;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the carrier, with a portion of thesurfboard shown in dot-and-dash lines; and

FIG. 3 is a rear view of one of the end portions of the carrier.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the shoulder strap portion of thecarrier or sling. The same, as well as most of the other parts of thedevice is preferably composed of a sturdy and strong strip material thatis resistant to the effects of salt water, such as a suitable plasticwhich can be provided in various colors if desired.

The shoulder strap 1 is made adjustable as to its effective length byhaving one end, or that shown at 2, doubled upon itself through a doubleloop member 3, the end of the shoulder strap being retained in itsrequired adjusted position by means of a buckle 4.

Extended through another part of the loop member 3 is a strap piece orportion 5, forming for all purposes, an extension or continuation of oneend of the shoulder strap, the rivets 6 maintaining the attachment ofthe strap portion 5 to the loop member 3.

Secured to the strap portion 5, adjacent to the loop member 3, is oneend 7 of one of the board-encircling loops or straps 8, said end beingfastened to the strap 3,377,007 Patented Apr. 9, 1968 portion 5 by meansof rivets 9a or equivalent fastening means. The opposite end of theboard-encircling loop 8 is adjustable through a clamp 9, secured by therivets 10 or other fastening means to a face of the strap portion 5,near one end of the same. The end portion 7 of the loop 8 is thuslocated between the loop member 3 and the clamp 10.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that the effective length of theshoulder strap 1 can be regulated by means of its adjustable attachmentto the loop member 3 and by its passage through the buckle 4. Theeffective diameter of the board-encircling loop 8 is also readilyregulatable by the adjustment of the free end 11 of the loop 8 throughthe clamp 9, the engagement of the clamp therewith securely holding theadjusted loop snugly about a surfboard, a portion of the same beingshown at 16a.

The second board-encircling loop of the carrier, and shown at 12, isattached to the shoulder strap 1 in the manner clearly shown in FIG. 2.The end 13 of the loop 12 is attached to a face of the shoulder strap 1above the clamp 15, the opposite end 14 of the loop 12 being adjustablethrough the clamp 15, which clamp may be similar to that shown at 9. Theclamp 15 is attached by rivets 16 or similar fastening means to theshoulder strap 1 near one end of the same.

One way in which the carrier or sling can be used is shown in FIG. 1:.The details of construction of the carrier are not shown therein forsimplicity in illustration. In fitting the carrier on the surfboard 16a,the approximate center of gravity of the board is located, and thecarrying loops or straps 8 and 12 are fitted snugly around the board,the effective diameters of these loops being adjusted to enable theloops to fit the board, by bringing the respective ends 11 and 14 ofthese loops through the clamps 9 and 15 to the required extent. Each ofthe loops or board-encircling straps should be located approximatelyfifteen inches from the center of gravity of the board for best resultsand easy carriage of the board.

The shoulder strap 1 should be adjusted so that the board will becarried well above the ground and at a comfortable height for theindividual user. In FIG. 1 the board is shown as being suspended fromthe shoulder of the wearer. It can also be carried across the chest andpossibly in other positions found most suitable to the individualsurfer.

The carrier can be made of such material and construction that it willbe sturdy and capable of long use. It permits an unwieldy surfboard tobe easily and conveniently carried by the surfer to and from the waterand will be found to be a useful and valuable adjunct to those whoindulge in the constantly increasing sport of surfing.

Having thus described a single embodiment of the invention, it isobvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broadenough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. A carrier or sling for transporting a relatively wide surfboardcomprising, a shoulder strap adapted to fit over the shoulder of aperson, means spaced from one end of the shoulder strap but below thecentral area thereof for regulating the effective length of the strap, arelatively narrow board-encircling loop attached at each end of theshoulder strap, and means at the opposite ends of the shoulder strap bywhich the effective diameter of each of the loops can be regulated toenable them to be fitted around a surfboard, one end of each of saidloops being fixed to said shoulder strap a substantial distance abovethe end of said strap, a clamp being attached to each of the ends ofsaid strap, the other end of each loop adapted to enter said clamp topermit adjustment of the length of 4 said loop, said loops extending inparallel relation to said References Cited StraP' UNI ma PATENTS 2. Acarrier or sling according to claim 1, wherein the TED ST! s regulatingmeans for one of said board-encircling loop at 2,530,695 11/ 1950Helrnert 2245 one end of the shoulder strap is attached to an extension5 2,812,123 11/ 1957 Girton 224-1 of the shoulder strap. 2,846,6998/1958 Watson 224-6 X 3. A carrier or sling according to claim 2,wherein one of said clamps is on the outside of said strap and the HUGOO. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. other clamp is on the inside of said strap.

